Mac Miller and Addiction: An All Too Common Story
Many of us heard of Mac Miller’s untimely death this past week, a drug overdose, at a mere 26 years old. Mac would frequently talk about his struggle with drugs in interviews, a struggle that began with purple lean (cough medicine mixed with soda or candies) when he was 15 years old. Though he got clean at the beginning of his career, he relapsed many times. One of the biggest relapses we heard about was his arrest for a DUI after his break up with Ariana Grande.
Addiction isn’t a choice. Addiction is a disease. The National Institute on Drug Abuse states, “22.6 percent of 18 to 20 year-olds reported using an illicit drug in the past month” as well as, “an estimated 22.7 million Americans (8.6 percent) needed treatment for a problem related to drugs or alcohol, but only about 2.5 million people (0.9 percent) received treatment at a specialty facility”.
If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone. Quitting alone isn’t easy and it is okay to seek help. Recurring drug use physically alters your body, specifically an area of your brain that regulates self-control. Consult a doctor for a referral to a program to get the help you need and find other people going through something similar (Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, etc.) Something you can do right now is call and talk to someone with SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) at 1-800- 662-HELP (4357) for help finding a treatment plan or 1-800-487-4889 for a 24/7, confidential, free of charge service for those struggling with substance abuse or those who have a struggling family member.
NIDA. "Nationwide Trends." National Institute on Drug Abuse, 25 Jun. 2015, https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/nationwide-trends. Accessed 9 Sep. 2018.